Variable-position lens-mounting accessory for motion-picture cameras, and method of use

Abstract

The device permits swing, shift, tilt and rise-and-fall movements between a lens and a motion-picture camera to manipulate focal relations and image shapes. Preferably the device rests on rails (called "iris rods") of a balance plate or base--secured under the camera--or some other track, similarly mounted. If so, the device has a first intermediary element preferably mounted to slide fore-and-aft on the track relative to the camera; and other intermediary elements mounted in a sequence preferably from the first element for translation and rotation relative to that element--ending in a lens-board mount for mounting a lens. Also in balance-plate mounting the device preferably includes a bellows whose front end joins the lens-board mount and whose rear end holds an adapter to engage the camera lens port. Preferably the device has a yoke (preferably flat and rearward-extending) for, e.g., swings to avoid interference with a central lower mirror housing of one camera popular with cinematographers, and is relatively narrow on at least its right side to clear the mirror housing of another such camera, and is reduced in height at one side to clear the viewfinder (and mirror housing) on yet another. Methods of use include rotating or translating the lens while filming, and even while panning or tilting the camera.

We claim: 
     
       1. A variable-position lens-mounting accessory for use with any one of three or more standard motion-picture cameras selectably, each of said cameras having a camera body and a lens-mounting port on the camera body, and each of said cameras defining a film plane for exposure of motion-picture film, and a first one of such cameras having a generally central mirror housing that protrudes forward from a lower portion of the camera body, and a second one of such cameras having a mirror housing protruding forward along a right side of the camera body, and a third one of such cameras having a viewfinder protruding forward from an upper portion of the camera body; and for use with generally fore-and-aft support-rail means secured to the camera body; and for use with a photographic lens; said accessory comprising: a first intermediary element slidably mounted substantially directly to such support-rail means for fore-and-aft sliding motion along such rail means; and manually operable means for locking the first element to such rail means, when desired to prevent sliding of the first element along such rail means;   another intermediary element supported from the first intermediary element for rotation about a generally vertical axis, and comprising a very generally rectangular frame which includes: a lower member that is shaped as a very generally flat yoke with (a) a central portion surrounding said rotational axis and extending sideward from said axis, and with (b) outboard portions that extend rearward from the central portion,   generally vertical members extending upward from outboard ends of said outboard portions, and   an upper member that is very generally horizontal and interconnects upper ends of the generally vertical members to form therewith the top of said frame;     the vertical and upper members of the frame being suspended by said yoke-shaped lower member, and rotating, very generally above such central lower mirror housing of such first camera when the accessory is used with such first camera; whereby the lower member during rotation, by virtue of said yoke shape, does not interfere with such central lower mirror housing of such first camera;   said frame being sufficiently narrow, at least on its right side, to clear such mirror housing of such second camera;   said upper member defining a dip at one side to clear such viewfinder on such third camera; and   a plurality of additional intermediary elements, mounted in a sequence from said other element to provide a plurality of translational or rotational components of motion relative to the first element, and including as a last element of said sequence a lens-board mount for mounting such photographic lens;   a bellows having a front end that is secured substantially directly to the lens-board mount, and a rear end; and   an adapter secured substantially directly to the rear end of the bellows, said adapter being engageable with such lens-mounting port of such motion-picture camera;   whereby such lens, when in use, is disposed and oriented in a selectable manner relative to such film plane.   
     
     
       2. A variable-position lens-mounting accessory for use with any one of three or more standard motion-picture cameras selectably, each of said cameras having a camera body and a lens-mounting port on the camera body, and each of said cameras defining a film plane for exposure of motion-picture film, and a first one of such cameras having a generally central first module that protrudes forward from a lower portion of the camera body, and a second one of such cameras having a second module protruding forward along a right side of the camera body, and a third one of such cameras having a third module protruding forward from an upper portion of the camera body; and for use with generally fore-and-aft support-rail means secured to the camera body; and for use with a photographic lens; said accessory comprising: a first intermediary element slidably mounted substantially directly to such support-rail means for fore-and-aft sliding motion along such rail means; and manually operable means for locking the first element to such rail means, when desired to prevent sliding of the first element along such rail means;   a second intermediary element supported from the first intermediary element for generally lateral motion, from a central position, relative to the first intermediary element,   a third intermediary element mounted substantially directly to the second intermediary element for rotation about a generally vertical axis relative to the second intermediary element, said third intermediary element comprising a very generally rectangular frame which includes: a lower member that is shaped as a very generally flat yoke with (a) a central portion surrounding said rotational axis and extending sideward from said axis, and with (b) outboard portions that extend rearward from the central portion,   generally vertical members extending upward from outboard ends of said outboard portions, and   an upper member that is very generally horizontal and interconnects upper ends of the generally vertical members to form the top of the frame;     said vertical and upper members of the frame being suspended by said yoke-shaped lower member, and rotating, very generally above such central first module of such first camera when the accessory is used with such first camera; whereby the lower member during rotation, by virtue of said yoke shape, does not interfere with with such central lower module of such first camera;   said frame being sufficiently narrow, at least on its right side, to clear such second module of such second camera, at least when said second intermediary element is disposed generally near its said central position;   said upper member defining a dip at one side to clear such third module on such third camera;   a plurality of additional intermediary elements, mounted in a sequence from the third element to provide a plurality of translational or rotational components of motion relative to the first element, and including as a last element of said sequence a lens-board mount for mounting such photographic lens;   a bellows having a front end that is secured substantially directly to the lens-board mount, and a rear end; and   an adapter secured substantially directly to the rear end of the bellows, said adapter being engageable with such lens-mounting port of such motion-picture camera;   whereby such lens, when in use, is disposed and oriented in a selectable manner relative to such film plane.   
     
     
       3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the additional intermediary elements comprise: a fourth intermediary element mounted substantially directly to the third intermediary element for generally vertical motion along the generally vertical members of the second-intermediary-element frame, substantially without interfering with such first, second or third module, when the accessory is used with such first, second or third camera respectively;   a fifth intermediary element mounted substantially directly to the fourth intermediary element for rotation about a generally transverse axis within said frame, substantially without interfering with such first, second or third module, when the accessory is used with such first, second or third camera respectively; and   a sixth intermediary element that is mounted substantially directly to and between the first and second intermediary elements for generally fore-and-aft relative motion of the second intermediary element relative to the first intermediary element, substantially without interfering with such first, second or third module, when the accessory is used with such first, second or third camera respectively.   
     
     
       4. The accessory of claim 3, further comprising: manually operable gear means interconnecting said first and second intermediary elements to provide relatively fine manual control of said generally lateral motion;   manually operable gear means interconnecting said third and fourth intermediary elements to provide relatively fine manual control of said generally vertical motion; and   manually operable gear means interconnecting said fifth and sixth intermediary elements to provide relatively fine manual control of said generally vertical motion.   
     
     
       5. A variable-position lens-mounting accessory for use with any one of three or more standard motion-picture cameras selectably, each of said cameras having a camera body and a lens-mounting port on the camera body, and each of said cameras defining a film plane for exposure of motion-picture film, and a first one of such cameras having a generally central mirror housing that protrudes forward from a lower portion of the camera body, and a second one of such cameras having a mirror housing protruding forward along a right side of the camera body, and a third one of such cameras having a view-finder protruding forward from an upper portion of the camera body; and for use with a photographic lens; said accessory comprising: a first intermediary element mounted for fore-and-aft motion relative to such lens-mounting port, and manually operable focal controls at the left side of the accessory for controlling said fore-and-aft motion;   a second intermediary element supported from the first intermediary element for generally lateral motion, from a central position, relative to the first intermediary element;   a third intermediary element mounted substantially directly to the second intermediary element for rotation about a generally vertical axis relative to the second intermediary element, said third intermediary element comprising a very generally rectangular frame which includes: a lower member that is shaped as a very generally flat yoke with (a) a central portion surrounding said rotational axis and extending sideward from said axis, and with (b) outboard portions that extend rearward from the central portion,   generally vertical members extending upward from outboard ends of said outboard portions, and   an upper member that is very generally horizontal and interconnects upper ends of the generally vertical members to form therewith the top of said frame;     the top of the frame being suspended by said yoke-shaped lower member, and rotating, very generally above such central mirror housing of such first camera, when the accessory is used with such first camera; whereby the lower member during rotation, by virtue of said yoke shape, does not interfere with such central lower mirror housing of such first camera;   said frame being sufficiently narrow, at least on its right side, to clear such mirror housing of such second camera, at least when said second intermediary element is disposed generally near its said central position;   said upper member defining a dip at one side to clear such viewfinder on such third camera; and   a plurality of additional intermediary elements, mounted in a sequence from the third element to provide a plurality of translational or rotational components of motion relative to the first element, and including as a last element of said sequence a lens-board mount for mounting such photographic lens; and   an adapter secured to one of said three intermediary elements, said adapter being engageable with such lens-mounting port of such motion-picture camera;   whereby such lens, when in use, is disposed and oriented in a selectable manner relative to such film plane.   
     
     
       6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the additional intermediary elements comprise: a fourth intermediary element mounted substantially directly to the third intermediary element for generally vertical motion along the generally vertical members of the second-intermediary-element frame, substantially without interfering with such first generally central lower mirror housing of such first camera, such mirror housing of such second camera, or such viewfinder of such third camera, when the accessory is used with such first, second or third camera respectively;   a fifth intermediary element mounted substantially directly to the fourth intermediary element for rotation about a generally transverse axis within said frame, substantially without interfering with such mirror housings of such first or second camera, or such viewfinder of such third camera, when the accessory is used with such first, second or third camera respectively; and   a sixth intermediary element that is mounted substantially directly to and between the first and second intermediary elements for generally fore-and-aft relative motion of the second intermediary element relative to the first intermediary element, substantially without interfering with such mirror housings of such first or second camera, or such viewfinder of such third camera, when the accessory is used with such first, second or third camera respectively.   
     
     
       7. The accessory of claim 6, further comprising: manually operable gear means interconnecting said first and second intermediary elements to provide relatively fine manual control of said generally lateral motion;   manually operable gear means interconnecting said third and fourth intermediary elements to provide relatively fine manual control of said generally vertical motion; and   manually operable gear means interconnecting said fifth and sixth intermediary elements to provide relatively fine manual control of said generally vertical motion.   
     
     
       8. A variable-position lens-mounting accessory for use with any one of three or more standard motion-picture cameras selectably, each of said cameras having a camera body, and defining a film plane for exposure of motion-picture film, and having on the camera body a lens-mounting port that is generally characterized by a mounting-port plane parallel to the film plane; and a first one of such cameras having a generally central mirror housing that protrudes forward from a lower portion of the camera body, and a second one of such cameras having a mirror housing protruding forward along a right side of the camera body, and a third one of such cameras having a viewfinder protruding forward from an upper portion of the camera body; and for use with a photographic lens; said accessory comprising: a first intermediary element mounted for fore-and-aft motion, relative to such lens-mounting port, and manually operable focal controls at the left side of the accessory for controlling said fore-and-aft motion;   at least one intermediary translational-motion element mounted for translational motion in a plane that is at least very generally parallel to such mounting-port plane;   at least one intermediary rotational-motion element mounted for rotation about an axis which lies in a plane that is at least very generally parallel to such mounting-port plane;   a frame which is supported relative to the camera body, and which supports at least some of said intermediary elements, and which includes at least one substantially linear member that extends alongside but substantially not beneath such lens when such lens is in use, said alongside extension being in a plane that is at least very generally parallel to such mounting-port plane;   whereby when the accessory is used with such first camera the substantially linear member during motion, by virtue of its nonextension beneath such lens in a plane at least very generally parallel to such mounting-port plane, does not interfere with such central lower mirror housing of such first camera;   said frame being sufficiently narrow, at least on its right side, to clear such mirror housing of such second camera, at least when said second intermediary element is disposed generally near its said central position;   said frame being vertically relieved on at least one side to clear such viewfinder on such third camera;   whereby all of the intermediary elements operate substantially without interference with such first generally central lower mirror housing of such first camera, such mirror housing of such second camera, or such viewfinder of such third camera, when the accessory is used with such first, second or third camera respectively;   a lens-board mount, supported from all of the intermediary elements, for mounting such photographic lens; and   an adapter attached to one of said intermediary elements, said adapter being engageable with such lens-mounting port of such motion-picture camera;   whereby such lens, when in use, is disposed and oriented in a selectable manner relative to such film plane.   
     
     
       9. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the at least one intermediary translational-motion element comprises: a second intermediary element mounted for generally lateral motion from a central position, relative to such lens-mounting port; and   another intermediary element mounted for generally vertical motion, relative to such lens-mounting port.   
     
     
       10. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the at least one intermediary rotational-motion element comprises: a third intermediary element mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis, relative to such lens-mounting port; and   still another intermediary element mounted for rotation about a generally transverse axis, relative to such lens-mounting port.   
     
     
       11. The accessory of claim 10, wherein the at least one intermediary rotational-motion element comprises: an intermediary element mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis, relative to such lens-mounting port; and   still another intermediary element mounted for rotation about a generally transverse axis, relative to such lens-mounting port.   
     
     
       12. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises: a lower member that is shaped very generally as a yoke with (a) a central portion extending sideward, and with (b) two outboard portions that extend from the central portion;   generally vertical members extending upward from outboard ends of said outboard portions, respectively; and   an upper member that is very generally horizontal and interconnects upper ends of the generally vertical members to form therewith a very generally rectangular frame which, when the accessory is used with such first camera, operates very generally above such central mirror housing of such first camera;   whereby, when the accessory is used with such first camera, the lower member during motion, by virtue of said yoke shape, does not interfere with such central lower mirror housing of such first camera;   said upper member defining a dip at one side to clear such viewfinder on such third camera.   
     
     
       13. A variable-position lens-mounting accessory for use with any one of four or more standard motion-picture cameras selectably, each of said cameras having a camera body, and defining a film plane for exposure of motion-picture film, and having on the camera body a lens-mounting port that is generally characterized by a mounting-port plane parallel to the film plane; and a first one of such cameras having a generally central mirror housing that protrudes forward from a lower portion of the camera body, and a second one of such cameras having a mirror housing protruding forward along a right side of the camera body, and a third one of such cameras having a viewfinder protruding forward from an upper portion of the camera body, and a fourth one of such cameras having a mirror housing protruding forward along a right side of the camera body and also a viewfinder protruding forward from an upper portion of the camera body; and for use with a photographic lens; said accessory comprising: a first intermediary element mounted for fore-and-aft motion, relative to such lens-mounting port, and manually operable focal controls at the left side of the accessory for controlling said fore-and-aft motion;   at least one intermediary translational-motion element mounted for translational motion in a plane that is at least very generally parallel to such mounting-port plane;   at least one intermediary rotational-motion element mounted for rotation about an axis which lies in a plane that is at least very generally parallel to such mounting-port plane;   a frame which is supported relative to the camera body, and which supports at least some of said intermediary elements, and which includes at least one substantially linear member that extends alongside but substantially not beneath such lens when such lens is in use, said alongside extension being in a plane that is at least very generally parallel to such mounting-port plane;   whereby when the accessory is used with such first camera the substantially linear member during motion, by virtue of its nonextension beneath such lens in a plane at least very generally parallel to such mounting-port plane, does not interfere with such central lower mirror housing of such first camera;   said frame being sufficiently narrow, at least on its right side, to clear such mirror housing of such second camera, at least when said second intermediary element is disposed generally near its said central position;   said frame being vertically relieved on at least one side to clear such viewfinder on such third camera;   said frame being sufficiently narrow, at least on its right side, to clear such mirror housing of such fourth camera; and said vertical relief of said frame also clearing such viewfinder on such fourth camera;   whereby all of the intermediary elements operate substantially without interference with such first generally central lower mirror housing of such first camera, such mirror housing of such second camera, or such viewfinder of such third camera, or such mirror housing and viewfinder of such fourth camera, when the accessory is used with such first, second, third or fourth camera respectively;   a lens-board mount, supported from all of the intermediary elements, for mounting such photographic lens; and   an adapter attached to one of said intermediary elements, said adapter being engageable with such lens-mounting port of such motion-picture camera;   whereby such lens, when in use, is disposed and oriented in a selectable manner relative to such film plane.